She added that it is important to resist the ­constant attempts to roll back a woman’s right to choose an abortion.

“We can’t be complacent,” she said. “We have to listen to the stories of women in the 1960s who faced the trauma of backstreet abortions. If we’re complacent, these people will take us back 50 years.”

Another protester, Rachel, pointed to the Conscientious Objection (Medical Activities Bill) currently going through the House of Lords.

This would allow any medical staff—including pharmaceutical and admin workers—to refuse to take part in any work that even indirectly relates to an abortion. Currently the law allows just doctors and nurses to refuse to take part in abortion procedures.

Rachel said this would make it much harder for women to access abortions.

“For women living in remote rural areas, you may not get a choice,” she said.

She added that the bill was “The 46th attempt to abolish the right to an abortion since the 1967 Abortion Act was passed 50 years ago”.

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